What is the meaning of Jeremiah 29:9? For they are falsely prophesying - God exposes people who claim to speak for Him yet deliver lies. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 explains that a prophet whose word does not come true “has spoken presumptuously.” - Jeremiah had already confronted such voices in Jeremiah 23:16-17: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you… They speak visions from their own minds.” - Jesus later warned, “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matthew 24:11), showing this danger persists. to you - The message targets the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4). God stresses that the deception directly threatens His people, not distant strangers. - Acts 20:29-30 echoes this personal concern: wolves “will come in among you… even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth.” - By addressing “you,” the Lord underscores each believer’s responsibility to test what they hear (1 John 4:1). in My name - False teachers misuse God’s reputation to add weight to their lies. Exodus 20:7 forbids taking His name “in vain.” - Jeremiah 23:25-27 shows the offense: “They prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream!’” - Claiming the Lord’s authority while spreading error not only harms listeners but also profanes His holiness (Ezekiel 36:23). I have not sent them - Authentic prophets are commissioned by God (Jeremiah 1:7). The impostors lacked such sending. - Jeremiah 23:21 repeats the indictment: “I did not send or appoint them, yet they ran with their message.” - Jesus applies the same principle to shepherds in John 10:12-13: hired hands flee because they do not truly belong to Him. declares the LORD - This closing statement seals the verdict with divine authority. When the Lord speaks, His word stands (Isaiah 55:11). - In Jeremiah 1:12 God promises, “I am watching over My word to accomplish it,” contrasting His certainty with the empty words of pretenders. - For the exiles—and for believers today—resting on what the Lord “declares” brings stability amid conflicting voices (Psalm 119:89). summary Jeremiah 29:9 warns that people who sound spiritual can still be false, especially when they claim God’s name without His commission. The verse calls every believer to discernment: measure every message by Scripture, trust only what God truly declares, and reject voices He has not sent. |
    |